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Glenn Beck calls for national revival

"We need to step up as people to voice our freedoms before they get taken," he said, adding that he's "not hopeful" about the world that his three sons will inherit. As he motioned to the crowd pouring in, he said, "I just think it's healthy for our country to have this."

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, a prospective GOP presidential candidate in 2012, delivered the keynote address, honoring U.S. military heroes. In keeping with Beck's insistence that the rally be apolitical, Palin said she spoke as a mother, not a politician.

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"Say what you want to say about me. I'm the mom of a combat vet and you can't take that away from me," she said, referring to her son, Track, an Army infantryman who has served in Iraq.

Still, Palin couldn't resist a dig at Obama, without naming him. Alluding to a theme from his 2008 campaign, she said: "We must not fundamentally transform America as some would want. We must restore America and restore her honor."

More than 250 members of the Central Baptist Church in Wendell, N.C., gathered at 2:30 am. to catch a convoy of buses to the rally.

"I believe we need to restore the honor of our country. We've lost it," said assistant pastor Bill Kincaid, 84. "Coming here today makes us aware that the majority of people feel the way we do."

Zane Zimmerman, 49, who drove in from Dundee, Ohio, ascribed his decision to come to Christian faith. Beck often talks about providence on his radio and television shows.

“It’s not a political rally,” he said. “It is principles handed down by God that the Founding Fathers just put into words. It’s not political! ... It’s not about presidents, senators or governors.”

But many, including those who have chosen to attend, see any event featuring Beck and Palin as inherently political. This was Palin’s first big public appearance since Joe Miller, her chosen candidate in Tuesday’s Republican Senate primary, appeared to upset incumbent Sen. Lisa Murkowski in Alaska. Ballots are still being counted, but the insurgent’s success is seen as a direct result of Palin choosing to wade aggressively into the contest.

Hundreds at the rally sported “I can see November from my House too!” stickers. A few people wore “Take Back The Hill” shirts. And many had on tea party shirts advertising where in the country they came from. When asked, most said they’d been involved in tea party activities and regularly watch Beck’s programs.

But aside from the whispers and strange looks, the only comment they heard from a Beck supporter was this: "I'll pray for you."

That was in stark contrast to the treatment they received at two Washington tea party rallies held this year, protesting the health care bill and Tax Day.

"At those rallies we were continuously engaged for hours," Kurstin said. "Compared to that — other than people rolling their eyes and giving looks — this has been pretty much nothing."

Late Friday, Beck gave a preview of the rally's contents to an audience of more than 2,500 people at the Kennedy Center. Feigning a Boston accent as he first took the stage in front of a huge, car-dealership-sized U.S. flag, Beck said, "This is a preview of what’s coming — not just tomorrow, but for a very long time. … This is the beginning of the end of darkness. We have been in darkness for a long time."

He revealed the formation of a "Black-Robed Regiment" of clergy members and said the event would be "a defibrillator to the spiritual heart of America.”

On Saturday, Beck brought 240 clergy (of various denominations) onto the stage to tout his new “regiment.” He asserted that thousands more were in the crowd. Then bagpipes played, and the crowd sang "Amazing Grace."

Liberals saw the event as a political pep rally intended to fire up Republican activists prior to November’s midterm elections. Indeed, many tea party activists at the rally planned to attend other training events scheduled for Sunday. Some conservatives see it as little more than a self-aggrandizing exercise for Beck to cement his place as a leader in the conservative movement. He’s also been criticized for not being politically active enough.

People who disagree with any issue are immediately called a "phobe" of some type. Islamaphobe, homophobe etc. I think it's time to expose them for their phobia: being an American. They are Ameriphobes, self hating Americans who like whatever a group 'dislikes' about this country. It's their way of stifling free speech that does not meet with their approval. America beware of Ameriphobes.

I wonder how many of those bashing Glenn Beck have actually watched his program or listened to him on the radio. He is not one dimensional or one sided. He is a great communicator and actually very funny!! God bless Glen Beck and all that he is trying to do for his Country.

It will be interesting to view the level of racial diversity in the crowd that attends this event. And yes folks, this time it does matter, and it does say something. How "honorable" is this event really? I suppose we shall soon see.

The JOURNOLIST LIB Media better wake up to the anger in America at the LIBERALISM that BO and the Dims are promoting! All I see are Negative stories about the Rally, because its a Conservative rally. I am sure that if the three stooges at MSNBC decided to do the same thing the Lib Media would be beside themselves with fawning, positive reporting and greatly OVERestimating the of a crowd.

Is it possible for ANY media to mention Beck and not mention the "obama is a racist comment?" By the way Politico, the guy in the story probably had a flag pole, not a flag poll. Spellcheck addicted morons, get a real proofreader.

keep on hatin' you lefties.....it's all you know. rather than support the unifying principles of the event (even though you may disagree with his political views) you just cry racism and hate crime and kkk and blah, blah, blah. the only ones listening are other hate filled lefties........no one else takes you seriously any longer because we've heard it all so much that it has no longer has meaning.

so redouble your efforts, keep hatin'......and slide further into obscurity.

People who disagree with any issue are immediately called a "phobe" of some type. Islamaphobe, homophobe etc. I think it's time to expose them for their phobia: being an American. They are Ameriphobes, self hating Americans who like whatever a group 'dislikes' about this country. It's their way of stifling free speech that does not meet with their approval. America beware of Ameriphobes.

Charles Krauthammer nailed them this week...He calls it..."The last refuge of a liberal"...they are limited to demonizing 70% of Americans. Here is the link. My favorite part is the last paragraph...

"The Democrats are going to get beaten badly in November. Not just because the economy is ailing. And not just because Obama over-read his mandate in governing too far left. But because a comeuppance is due the arrogant elites whose undisguised contempt for the great unwashed prevents them from conceding a modicum of serious thought to those who dare oppose them."http://www.washingtonpost.com/...

This is little more than a self-aggrandizing exercise on the part of Glenn Beck who is very much caught up in his own self importance. The man is delusional when he says he is going to form a 'black robbed regiment." What the he_l does that mean? He thinks he's honorable which implies that anyone who disagrees with him is dishonorable? The whole event is nebulous and unfocused without a clear stated purpose which is highly offensive and unreasonably disrespectful of Martin Luther King. The event's purpose is indeed political with the obvious intended purpose of the Republican Party trying to bully their way into political power. While the analogy perhaps has been overused and overplayed, I cannot help but share that the event reminds me very much of Adolph Hitler and Nazi Germany.

Ken Vogel and Mike Allen: "That crowd will march to a memorial that’s under construction to honor King near the Tidal Basin, raising the specter that there could be clashes between the two crowds." Responsible American journalists would not make such a statement.

Yep, the Dems and the liberal msm have been trying to play the racist card all week and now we find out that kings niece is going to speak there and other african americans. Looks like the lamestream media just got "punked"...LOL Looks like politico is trying to incite something by implying that there "might be clashes". give me a break you stupid hack journoliters.

Thinking about it, I believe Beck just may be making a fatal mistake born of his incredible arrogance.

Black Folks still support Pres. Obama in overwhelming proportions. Tho they've been relatively quiet of late, they just might be mobilizable for this election. Something like the rank desecration of this hallowed place and the unique hero that is Martin Luther King just may do the trick. These fools just may be overestimating their own cynical cleverness by half, and simultaneously underestimating the power of Black Folk in this country.

If Pres. Obama and Co. follow up on this, mobilizing this sentiment into support for individual Dem candidates for Congressperson, Senator, or Governor, then that, on top of the obvious disdain demonstrated for Latinos, Muslims, and Gay Folk just may be the November Surprise we so desperately need to bring about.

I hope there aren't enough attendees to pay for the event and Beck has to eat the loss.

Is someone planning on getting some aerial views of this event so that we can all see exactly how many people actually show up for it? I believe the estimate for those attending Obama's inaugural was something in the order of 1.7 million, and at that one people stretched for as far back as the eye could see. This would ensure that no fox news producer makes the crowd seem much larger and energized than it is, which is pretty standard practice over at that goebbels propaganda network.